Automatic bottle stopper



Feb 3936- J. B. DELLA LIBERA Y SILICANI 2,031,821

AUTOMATI C BOTTLE STOPPER Filed NOV. 8, 1933 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE AUTOMATIC BOTTLE STOPPER Juan Bautista Della Libera y Silicani, Habana, Cuba 3 Claims.

My invention relates to an automatic bottle stopper for preventing the refilling of bottles and the like liquid containers. The principal object of my invention is to completely prevent that bottles and the like liquid containers may be refilled with an imitation of original liquid after container has been emptied once.

My invention, which is adapted to be placed and lit tightly in the exit opening or neck of the container, comprises body portion in two parts, wherein a gravity operated valve controlling the passage through the lower part is guarded by a closure member in the upper part comprising an annular valve disc which slides over an interior boss surrounding and having an exit to the outlet in the upper part and which closes and opens peripheral openings in a further disc valve adapted normally to engage a seating to cut off the passage through the lower part, inversion of the container causing the gravity operated valve to open and discs to be relatively displaced so as to give a through passage for the outflow of liquid from the container, but when container is in normal position, discs will rest 5 one on top of the other to constitute a closure member guarding the valve from manipulation from the outside and entirely preventing the pouring in of liquid into the container.

The gravity operated valve consists of a semi- 30 spherical member normally held on its seating by a ball shaped counter-weight flexibly connected to the semi-spherical valve member by loosely connected links, inversion of container causing valve member to move ofi its seating under gravity until the ball engages with the body portion of the stopper.

With the aforesaid object in view, my invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the several views.

In this drawing:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the stopper as placed in the neck of a container.

Figure 2 is a view in outside elevation of the stopper, sectioned in two parts.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section on the line AB,AB in Fig. 1showing the interior of the stopper in an inverted position with parts in section showing an embodiment of invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the special shaped disc incorporated in the stopper as part of the valve device.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the body of the stopper consists of external sectional shell structure in two parts; upper part 9 and lower part 9a; both parts 9, 9a, having within the interior exit passages l0 and I6 for the liquid in the bottle or container, the exit passage I6 in the lower part 9a of the body having an inlet H and the exit passage [0 in the upper part 9 of the body having an outlet 12. The exit passage I6 is formed with a valve seating including three 10 circumferentially spaced guide nibs M for a semispherical valve member I which in its normal position, or in horizontal position, fits accurately in its seating under the action of a ball 8 constituting a counterweight flexibly connected to the 15 valve 1 by two loosely connected links H so as to close the exit passage and prevent the liquid from being poured into the container. Inversion of bottle or container causes the valve 1 to fall by gravity until ball shaped counter-weight 8 en- 20 gages the sides of inlet ll whereupon the liquid in the bottle can flow out through the annular spaces between the valve 1 and its seating.

To exclude all possibility of liquid being forced into the bottle as well as to prevent the ingress 25 of extraneous matters which might hinder the functioning of the valve 1 the upper part 9 of the body houses a series of discs comprising a convex centrally apertured washer 6 and fixed at the edges between the two sections or parts 9, 9a, to constitute a seating for a flat sliding disc 5 of a shape such as shown in Fig. 4, which provides spaced apart recesses in its periphery allowing the liquid to flow out when the bottle is inverted and the disc 5 rests on upstanding nibs or projections l5 spaced apart circumferentially around the edge of interior walls of outlet I 2, the nibs I5 providing exit spaces to the outlet [2 to permit the liquid to flow out; an annular ring-1ike washer 4 is provided which slides down and serves, when the bottle is in its normal position, to maintain the disc 5 on close contact with fixed convex washer B and to close the spaced apart recesses formed between the inner walls of upper part 9 and the disc 5. Upon the bottle or container being inverted the sliding ring-like washer 4 slides away from the disc 5 dropping into the annular groove formed by the annular flange about the port l2 of upper part 9 and inner wall of said upper part 9.

In operation the stopper after the bottle or container has been filled is first inserted into the neck of the bottle or container and upon inverting or tilting the bottle or container for the purpose of pouring out the contents, the liquid enters through the inlet II passes via. the exit passage l6 through the annular opening or space l3 produced by the opening of the valve 1, to the exit passage Hi, from whence it flows through central perforation of convex washer 6 and the recesses of special shaped disc 5 to the outlet l2.

Every attempt to introduce new liquid into the bottle or container through the stopper will fail on account of washer 4, disc 5, convex washer 6 and the normally closed valve 1, as it is impossible to make the necessary movement or manipulation in order to pass the liquid or any other extraneous matter through the discs 5 and 6 and the valve 1. j

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, which I claim to be new and desiring to protect same by Letters Patent.

1. A non-refillable type bottle stopper adapted to be placed in the neck of a bottle, comprising an external sectional shell structure having upper and lower sections with ports in each end surface of the structure to permit the flow of liquid therethrough, each section forming a chamber adapted to house independent valve units, said upper section having a downwardly extending annular flange about the port therein, forming with the external wall an annular groove for the reception of a valve, spacing means on the rim of the flange, an annular flange, on the lower surface of the external wall of the upper section adapted to retain a valve seat member and a semi-spherical valve seat located centrally of the lower section, and means to allow the flow of fluid therethrough when the valve is open comprising lugs extending from both faces thereof.

2. A non-refillable type stopper adapted to be placed in a container or bottle neck, comprising an external sectional shell structure having upper and lower apertured sections, a vertical flange on the lower part of the bottom section forming a groove between the sections, a convex washer in said groove, a centrally located valve seat in said washer, a valve disc engaging said seat and spaced from the inside wall of the shell structure to form a liquid passage between the edge of the disc and said wall, means to close said liquid passage when the stopper is in upright position comprising a ring-like washer, and spaced apart means depending from the upper wall of the shell to limit the movement of said disc and slidingly engage the opening in the ring-like washer in such a manner that the valve members will close when the stopper is in upright or horizontal position but open to allow egress of the contents of the bottle when inverted.

3. A non-refillable type stopper adapted to be placed in the neck of a bottle or container, comprising an external sectional shell structure having upper and lower sections, pouring passages through said sections and a combined valve seat and guard consisting of a convex centrally apertured washer between the sections, a semi-spherical shaped valve and seat to open and close the aperture in the lower section, said valve having a pendent ball shaped weight attached to the valve by loosely connected links, spaced apart means extending downwardly from said valve seat to prevent the closing of the seat by the pendent weight and ports in the upper edge of the seat to allow free passage of liquid.

JUAN BAUTISTA DELLA LIBERA Y SILICANI. 

